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Computer education ignites a new energy among senior citizens of Mendawali Village in east Delhi

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MCD Recreation center for senior citizens has been locked for almost six years, the day it was constructed in Mendawali village, east Delhi; it was discovered by trainees of Pehachaan computer community training program organized by Nada India Foundation in collaboration with National Institute of Social Defence Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment The location of this center was found on internet while surfing on Google search engine by trainees of computer course.

Mr.Phool Singh 64, rededicate himself to revive the recreation center for senior citizen, he says computer community education program helped him to build his lost identity as local leader. Once, he was focal point of local politics but left everything gradually and put on the margin of the changed village.

During the initial discussions and survey, senior citizens denied the need of such training at this age and laughed away the proposal of joining the course. They talked about what the people would think specially their grand children or neighbors. Going every day for computer class and community lunch with old friends has helped people in neighborhood to change their mind set and attitude towards old people. A camp of Naturopathy and ear acupuncture was also organized by Nada India and Delhi Institute of Naturopathy after the completion of the course. Dr. Michael O. Smith a psychiatrist and internationally recognized acupuncturist from Lincoln Hospital New York gave the ear acupuncture treatment for wellbeing (3points NADA protocol) and awareness talks by naturopaths on health & nature to senior citizens and adolescents.
All the 20 trainees of this computer training program constituted micro credit self help group with an elected convener Mr.O.P. Sharma and Mr.Bisth as treasurer of the Varisth Nagrik Mitra Sangh. Now, the group meets once a week in the park for ear acupuncture for wellbeing and also discusses issues and concerns related to senior citizens and adolescents like health services for senior citizens and use of drugs, HIV/AIDS, character building etc. The Sangh has set an agenda of the year is as follows
· Reopening and taking charge of Senior Citizen Recreation Center at Mendawali village
· Health & safety of Senior Citizens
· Adolescents related issues and concerns like education, health, drug & HIV/AIDS.

During certificate distribution ceremony, on 3rd Jan 2007 , Ms.Saraswati Dy. Director (Training), National Institute of Social Defense highlighted the importance of community based computer training programs in igniting a new energy among the senior citizens. She added that Nada India’s strength lies in its participatory approach and community mobilization by empowering the senior citizens and adolescents where they are.

Mr.Suneel Vatsyayan, Trustee & Chairperson of Nada India Foundation added that starting programs where people are at and supporting their initiatives at local level with the help of community based organizations like Delhi Institute of Naturopathy and Sristy Prabha a youth driven community initiative & an affiliate member of Nada India Network. He also explained on this occasion that Pehachaan (Identity), a program of Nada India is an effort to help senior citizens, women and adolescents to build on their identity by engaging them in computer learning, radio club activities and community development process.
The uniqueness of this program lies in the involvement of adolescents in the senior citizens learning process and it provides an opportunity to both grand children and grand parents to come closer to each other. As part of the computer training course senior citizens were given practical and theoretical inputs on computer components, correct positioning at the computer, how to turn the computer on, mouse control ,opening a new document ,retrieving a saved document, saving to the hard drive, how to change picture of desk top. Course was also aimed at giving the senior trainees an introduction to sending emails and using the World Wide Web (www). And this is how they searched the location of the recreational center which belongs to them locally.

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